From the New York Times bestselling author of the House of Night series-a passionate paranormal delight...

Empousai family roses have bloomed for centuries, thanks to the drops of blood their women sacrifice for their gardens. But Mikki would rather forget this family quirk and lead a normal life. Until she unwittingly performs a ritual, ending up in the strangely familiar Realm of the Rose. As its goddess Hecate reveals, Mikki is a priestess-and the Realm's been waiting for her...

Long ago, an enraged Hecate cursed her guardian beast and the entire Realm with a slumber only a priestess can undo-and she's counting on Mikki. The beast at first terrifies Mikki-but soon intrigues her more than any man ever has. But the only way he and the Realm can be saved is for Mikki to sacrifice her life-giving blood-and herself...

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Product Description

About the Author

Award-winning author P. C. Cast is a dynamic, entertaining orator and an extraordinary teacher. Currently, her realm is in Oklahoma, where she resides with her spoiled cat, Patchy Poo the Pud, and her stubborn Scottie dogs, better known as The Snotties.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)

P C Cast has once again taken us on a journey of mythic proportions. Wonderful characters, wonderful worlds, warm loving feelings and a joyful story. I loved it.

Mikado Empousai is a unique individual, her blood can actually protect and raise the most beautiful roses in the world. She has only used her unusual powers to grow prize winning roses. The powers are handed down by the women in her familly. She is the last. Now she works at the rose gardens at Woodward Park in Tulsa. Whether by accident or the powers that be, Mikado completes a goddess summoning ritual and frees the imprisioned Guardian at the Park. Ultimately finding out she is a Priestess of The REalm of the Roses.

The Guardian is a beast with the heart and soul of a man imprisioned inside. He has committed a crime against Hecate his Goddess, now that he is free he grabs Mikki and returns to the Realm of the Roses. A son of one of the titans he was cursed at birth to look like a beast. Being the only one of his kind leaves him to live a lonely hollow existance. But now he is determined to redeem himself and return to his job as Guardian of the Realm of the Roses. Not for him is touch or softness only duty.

Whatever you expect from this story, you get so much more. The interaction between the Guardian and the Priestess, as well as the citizens of this wonderful land is priceless. You only find a book like this once in a long while. Do not miss it. If you like love, romance, duty and heartwarming devotion this one is for you. I am so thankful I did not miss it.

This wonderful retelling of a Beauty and the Beast tale is so different and warm and I can only say I look forward to more of the Goddess Summoning Tales by P C Cast. Don't miss this one.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

Definitely worth readingFeb. 10 2006

By
Deborah Wiley
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Mass Market Paperback

P.C. Cast creates new tales from old myths. In her latest book, she interweaves the tale of the Minotaur with Beauty and the Beast to create a fascinating story. Mikado "Mikki" Empousai hides a family secret; for generations, the women in her family have been gifted with the ability to grow beautiful roses with only a small sacrifice to feed the roses. However, this time things go a little differently as she inadvertently invokes a sacred ritual and awakens the Guardian who then transports her to the Realm of the Rose. Mikki agrees to devote herself to the goddess Hecate and begins work on restoring the roses in the Realm as she feels at home in this world. She sees the man underneath the beast in the Guardian, Asterius, as he shows her the magic of the Realm. She learns of the Dream Weavers and even more importantly of those who weave the tapestry of life that allows dreams to come true. Disaster strikes when four Dream Stealers, Hatred, Fear, Envy, and Selfishness, manage to enter the Realm of the Rose and taint the roses. As the roses begin rapidly dying, Mikado has to make the ultimate sacrifice. P.C. Cast has created an enchanting story that captivates the reader. Despite liking several other works by Cast, I wasn't sure I was going to like this book. However, the conclusion of the novel made the entire journey worthwhile as Cast cleverly tied together all aspects of the novel.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

Amazingly Great ReadApril 21 2007

By
Lady Vampire
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Mass Market Paperback

To start off, I immediately liked this book because Beauty and the Beast is one of my classic favorites and this book was the author's personal take on the beloved tale. I have to tell you it astounded me how different it was and yet managed to enchant me within minutes. The mysteries implore you to read on and find the answers even as you lose yourself to the great plot.

Mikki is the heroine who ends up accidentally breaking the Beast's curse and freeing him from his imprisonment. In exchange for his freedom, the Beast whisks Mikki off to the Realm of the Rose where he is Guardian. A land he is both awed and feared in but non-the-less calls home. Mikki slowly starts to see the inner working of both the people and the Realm and develops feelings for both. But can a human love a beast? She will have to find out while dodging enemies, unraveling mysteries and giving in to her darkest desires. A task daunting at times but ultimately worth the price it comes with.

The first thing I noticed was the author's great descriptions. The story came to life off the pages and I felt like I was able to explore along with the heroine. And then there are the great characters. The heroine is quite loveable and sees the best in everyone. Makes a person cheer for her in her quest to right the wrongs done purposely or inadvertently. The hero is the haunted beast as you may have guessed. But P.C. Cast really puts a new take on him. For me he became more real, facing the dilemmas and hardships never mentioned in any other story but all too real in life. Quite an interesting pair and really worth the read.

If there was anything I didn't like about this book, it was the ending. And that's because this is one of those books that you read and hate to see end. Eventually it will, but if you are like me, you will be so wrapped up in the story that the end will happen too fast and leave you wanting. Fortunately, this author has more great stories and the journey can continue in those pages for the avid reader.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

Another fantastic mythic romance from an emerging master of the genreFeb. 26 2006

By
brimmels
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Mass Market Paperback

Another wonder installment in P.C. Cast's "Goddess Summoning" series (though don't let the "series" banner deter you -- each book stands alone. They're just linked by the mythic connection). Just when I think she might be getting a little formulaic, she proves me wrong. In "Goddess of the Rose," Cast masterfully blends Beauty & the Beast with the myth of the minotaur, the underworld goddess Hecate and her own spin on Greek mythology to create a vibrant world filled with likeable characters and a plot that does keep you guessing. OK, it's a romance so you know there will be a happy ending -- that's one of the charms -- but part of the fun in Cast's books is trying to figure out how she's going to resolve the impossible situation she set up and then enjoying her clever and logical solution. I especially like the spiritual undertones in her books, which in this case includes forgiveness and learning from mistakes, not to mention not judging by appearances.

I HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend P.C. Cast's books. She has become one of my all-time favorite favorite authors. Her annual Goddess Summoning novel is an auto-buy for me along with Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series (I'm loath to compare people, but Cast is technically the better writer though both create great characters in intricate mythic settings). My only disappointment is that Cast only releases one of these novels a year but if writing faster hurt the quality -- and it probably would -- I'll stick with this pace. Why wreck a great thing?

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

Goddess of the RoseMay 8 2009

By
NoeCO
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Paperback
Verified Purchase

A good read with a simple storyline and likeable characters. There are no twist or turns and the romance develops easily. The author does not really develop the characters beyond the surface, though they were both likeable enough. If you are into more complex storylines and characters you probably won't appreciate this book.